Kentucky Derby | No new Pegasus or race threats

LMPD Special Operations Commander Kelly Jones talks about the traffic routes as well as security that will be in place for the Pegasus Parade on Broadway as well as Oaks and Derby Day at Churchill Downs during a media briefing Tuesday morning. April 29, 2014(Photo: By Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal)Buy Photo

The Louisville Metro Police are not aware of any fresh threats, but plan to be out in full force with other local, federal and state law enforcement agencies for the Pegasus Parade on Thursday evening through the Kentucky Oaks and Derby the two days following.

Police commanders declined to give numbers of officers who will be on duty, but said the contingent will be at least equal to the number who worked last year when events came off without major incident.

City streets have been relatively quiet since an outbreak of violence by primarily teenagers March 22 that started at Waterfront Park and spread to other downtown locations.

Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said police have been monitoring social media and that "there are no threats that we know of." Citizens are advised "if they see something" — including any suspicious unattended items — or hear something suspicious, call 911 or report it to a police officer, Mitchell said.

Earlier this month, an FBI memo said there have been "rumblings" about gang members showing up in large numbers at the Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade.

Police are taking precautions, including installing portable video cameras at unspecified locations along the Broadway parade route for the Pegasus Thursday evening — an event that typically draws more than 100,000 streetside viewers. The traffic plan for the parade is similar to last year, with several major downtown ramps to and from I-65 to be closed around 4:30 p.m. Thursday — an hour before the scheduled start of the parade.

The police will have a heavy presence around town, including concentrating enforcement along the West Broadway corridor Friday night. In the past, thousands of people cruised there on Derby eve, but the activity has tailed off in recent years. "Cruising is a criminal violation and will be strictly enforced," Mitchell said.

To help provide an outlet for activities in western Louisville and as an alternative to cruising, Shawnee and Chickasaw parks will be open all weekend. Sidewalk vendors will not be permitted along or near West Broadway this weekend, without a city-issued permit.

Throughout the weekend, "we will be monitoring the areas of Fourth Street Live and the downtown business district, the Baxter Ave.-Bardstown Rd. corridor, and Broadway, to assist the community in making it safe and enjoyable for everyone," the metro police said in a news release. "We will be monitoring all of the areas and utilize resources where they are needed."

Police spokeswoman Carey Klain said metro police plan to set up four road blocks Sunday. She said details of where and when will be announced before Sunday morning. But one check point will be set up in each of four different LMPD divisions, she said, with police stopping vehicles to check primarily for seat-belt usage and driver sobriety.

Reporter Sheldon S. Shafer can be reached at (502) 582-7089. Follow him on Twitter at @sheldonshafer.

For information on traffic related to Oaks and Derby go to www.Louisvilleky.gov/metropolice/derby+festival+information/ and click on tab, "Derby Festival information."